Maywick, Shetland

Maywick is a small village a few miles north of Bigton. Its a dead end so you need to have a reason to go

Its a good mixture of the old and newer and as well as about 5 homes there are horses as well

To get to the beach (Next blog) you have to find a small track between buildings

The beach track

Falling down

we will visit the beach on the next blog

We are still under lock down so few visitors, if any. You can find a deserted beach, go whale watching by your self or visit the Puffins in isolation. The weather has been alot drier than down in England although  we have had fog on a couple of days.

Today is the longest day, a time when no darkness is seen 

Sandwick, Shetland

These photos were taken from above Swinster, Sandwick

 Looking east towards Brentfield on the far hill

 Middle social club

 Cullister

 Clumiewick

 Sandwick Bakery

Swinster Burn in the foreground

Changes in Shetland

Now we are out of lockdown (for a while) its been good to go further a field

Teddy

We have been down the south end most of the time and we have had great weather as well. Still not many folk about except at Sumburgh hotel where at least 50 people congregated. I think these were Oil Workers waiting to go out to the rigs

Further up north its not been good news, Scatsta airport is closing at the end of the month and now the Moorfield Hotel is also closing with 50 jobs going. This is all down to Sullom Voe reducing its workforce. The hotel was specifically built with the management in mind. I think that is nearly all the hotels up for sale in Shetland. 

St Ninian's

Sumburgh Hotel

Sumburgh Farm and hotel in background

In the south mainland, Toab shop is up for sale and several houses have recently come onto the market.

A number of folk have said they are waiting to move to Shetland but it could be several months before they will be able to come to up. Good news is that its 6 weeks since the last case of Covid

We are resigned to staying in Shetland for our holidays, couldn't ask for a better place although we will miss seeing everyone down in Sheffield

Sanick, Shetland

Enjoyable walk round Sanick a small part of Sandwick. The weather was beautiful with very little wind

Sanick Church

Old house

View south towards Sumburgh

Circular part of the walk

From Thursday we can at last go a bit further a field, so hoping we can get down to Sumburgh providing weather is ok.

Looks like a lot of holiday companies have already gone bust with more to come. No ferries or planes as yet. Still a number of folk waiting to move to Shetland, some without jobs and one couple has resold their house twice since the lock down.

Food supplies seem ok but the number of folk going to the supermarket has increased at the time we go. Some shops planning to open soon, just wonder how many will be left. Schools too, although many parents have reservations about sending their children.

Lets hope there is no second spike we all want to get back to normal as soon as possible, will miss our trip south this year.

Scalloway Up Helly Aa 2021 has already been cancelled, a lot of work goes into building the galley and preparing the outfits and as no one will have been able to attend the meetings not enough time will be left to get things ready. Is that the first of many?

I still dont know when I can restart delivering the photography courses, one is half finished but it could be the end of the year before I recommence.

Shetland May weather

Thankfully the snow seems to have ended and today its a lot warmer

Had a walk down to Sandsayre and then round to Sanick, only saw one other person. Gather its chaos down in London with packed Buses, tubes and trains can see another outbreak of the virus breaking out in England.

Up here in Shetland its still the same, don't go out unless its necessary and most people are doing that. People will cross over the road if they are coming down the road towards you and the supermarkets still seem to be working ok although now we only have ferries every other day there seems to be less on the shelves.

You have to feel sorry for the lambs , many of which are still being born and for those crofters that are helping them. Our friends are often up in the middle of the night and the cold snowy weather has not helped

Looking east towards Sand lodge

clouds gathering in the north

Snow storm over Cunningsburgh and a few minutes later it hit Sandsayre but plenty of cover behind the buildings. It only lasted about 15 mins but with so much salt in the air it never settles for long

Will be good to go further a field when the ban is lifted but still plenty to see locally especially with an ever changing sky

Shetland Snow in May

Now that I have retired it seems strange that we cannot get out more but with this virus we are staying safe.

Could have new jobs as bank robbers!

 Our planned holiday is cancelled but at least we are keeping in touch with people with Skype when the laptop works.

Sandwick

I am now on my third laptop in the last two weeks, the first two had microphone problems and the current one is ok at the moment but seems to be getting very hot, a common problem with Dell computers

At least I am getting out for a walk most days, even during the early part of this week with the unusual snow showers.

We are very lucky to have 5 beaches within reach but one is just not possible at the moment as we would need to drive to it. To see more check out shetlandsfp.blogspot.co.uk.